New clues on the contribution of Earth’s volcanism to the global mercury cycle

Bagnato, E.; Aiuppa, Alessandro; Parello, Francesco; Allard, P.; Shinohara, Hiroshi; Liuzzo, Marco; Giudice, Gaetano

doi:10.1007/s00445-010-0419-y

Cited by 62 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 101 publications

(173 reference statements)

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“…Our GEM/S data are consistent with compositions quoted by Varekamp and Buseck (1986) in their global inventory of passive emissions from nonerupting volcanoes (3.7 × 10 -6 ), and fall within the best-estimated range (10 -4 to 10 -6 ) of compositions of nonexplosive volcanic gas emissions (Pyle and Mather, 2003). The range of literature GEM/S ratios in volcanic exhalations is in fact much broader, between 10 -2 and 10 -5 (Bagnato et al, 2011;Ballantine et al, 1982;Varekamp and Buseck, 1981;Buat-Menard and Arnold, 1978). Part of this GEM/S variability may reflect differences in the composition of degassing magmas, or the temperature dependence of volcanic gas chemistry Martin et al, 2006).…”

Section: Active Sampling Of Gem In Nea Kameni's Fumarolessupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Natural sources, like active volcanoes, have long been recognized as key trace metals contributors to the atmosphere and aquatic environments (Pyle and Mather, 2003;Bagnato et al, 2011). Among these metals, mercury (Hg) is of special concern, in light of its high toxicity (Barringer et al, 2005) and its tendency to bio-accumulate in aquatic ecosystems in methylation processes (Winfrey and Rudd, 1990).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The present-day average atmospheric Hg concentrations range between 1.5 and 5 ng m -3 in the Northern Hemisphere voirs. Significant work has been done in the last years to quantify emissions from volcanoes, Hg-enriched soils and large-scale Hg mineral belts (Pyle and Mather, 2003;Friedli et al, 2003;Gustin, 2003;Varekamp and Buseck, 1981;Bagnato et al, 2011). Volcanic and geothermal areas have been suggested as important natural sources of mercury, accounting for ~60% of total natural Hg emissions into the atmosphere, as also testified by particularly high Hg concentrations in volcanic gases relative to background air Buseck, 1981, 1986;Pyle and Mather, 2003;Nriagu, 1989;Bagnato et al, 2007Bagnato et al, , 2009aBagnato et al, , 2009b.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mercury emissions from soils and fumaroles of Nea Kameni volcanic centre, Santorini (Greece)

et al. 2013

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There have been limited studies to date targeting mercury emissions from volcanic fumarolic systems, and no mercury flux data exist for soil or fumarolic emissions at Santorini volcanic complex, Greece. We present results from the first geochemical survey of Hg and major volatile (CO 2 , H 2 S, H 2 O and H 2 ) concentrations and fluxes in the fumarolic gases released by the volcanic/hydrothermal system of Nea Kameni islet; the active volcanic center of Santorini. These data were obtained using a portable mercury spectrometer (Lumex 915+) for gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) determination, and a Multi-component Gas Analyzer System (Multi-GAS) for major volatiles. Gaseous Elemental Mercury (GEM) concentrations in the fumarole atmospheric plumes were systematically above background levels (~4 ng GEM m -3 ), ranging from ~4.5 to 121 ng GEM m -3 . Variability in the measured mercury concentrations may result from changes in atmospheric conditions and/or unsteady gas release from the fumaroles. We estimate an average GEM/CO 2 mass ratio in the fumarolic gases of Nea Kameni of approximately 10 -9 , which falls in the range of values obtained at other low-T (100°C) volcanic/hydrothermal systems (~10 -8 ); our measured GEM/H 2 S mass ratio (10 -5 ) also lies within the accepted representative range (10 -4 to 10 -6 ) of non-explosive volcanic degassing. Our estimated mercury flux from Nea Kameni's fumarolic field (2.56 × 10 -7 t yr -1 ), while making up a marginal contribution to the global volcanic non-eruptive GEM emissions from closed-conduit degassing volcanoes, represents the first available assessment of mercury emissions at Santorini volcano, and will contribute to the evaluation of future episodes of unrest at this renowned volcanic complex.

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Section: Active Sampling Of Gem In Nea Kameni's Fumarolessupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mercury emissions from soils and fumaroles of Nea Kameni volcanic centre, Santorini (Greece)

et al. 2013

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“…Bagnato et al, 2007;Witt et al, 2008). Recent crater rim measurements show total Hg concentrations of N100 ng m −3 , which correspond to~100× the local atmospheric background (e.g., Bagnato et al, 2007Bagnato et al, , 2009Bagnato et al, , 2010. Such measurements indicate that RGM + Hg p comprise~1-2% of Hg tot at Etna, Sicily (Bagnato et al, 2007) and La Soufrière, Guadeloupe (Bagnato et al, 2009), 2-8% of Hg tot at Masaya, Nicaragua (Witt et al, 2008) and a poorly quantified amount (b20%) of Hg tot at Kīlauea, Hawaiì .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Active volcanoes are a major source of Hg to the atmosphere (Pyle and Mather, 2003;Bagnato et al, 2010). An estimated~75-100 Mg yr −1 is released by quiescent degassing at volcanoes such as Mt Etna, Sicily (Bagnato et al, 2007) and Masaya, Nicaragua (Witt et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid oxidation of mercury (Hg) at volcanic vents: Insights from high temperature thermodynamic models of Mt Etna's emissions

et al. 2011

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A major uncertainty regarding the environmental impacts of volcanic Hg is the extent to which Hg is deposited locally or transported globally. An important control on dispersion and deposition is the oxidation state of Hg compounds: Hg(0) is an inert, insoluble gas, while Hg(II) occurs as reactive gases or in particles, which deposit rapidly and proximally, near the volcanic vent. Using a new high temperature thermodynamic model, we show that although Hg in Etna's magmatic gases is almost entirely Hg(0) (i.e., gaseous elemental mercury), significant quantities of Hg(II) are likely formed at Etna's vents as gaseous HgCl 2 , when magmatic gases are cooled and oxidised by atmospheric gases. These results contrast with an earlier model study and allow us to explain recent measurements of Hg speciation at the crater rim of Etna without invoking rapid (b 1 min) low temperature oxidation processes. We further model Hg speciation for a series of additional magmatic gas compositions. Compared to Etna, Hg(II) production (i.e., Hg(II)/Hg tot ) is enhanced in more HCl-rich magmatic gases, but is independent of the Hg, HBr and HI content of the magmatic gases. Hg(II) production is not strongly influenced by the initial oxidation state of magmatic gases above NNO, although production is hindered in more reduced magmatic gases. The model and results are widely applicable to other open-vent volcanoes and may be used to improve the accuracy of chemical kinetic models for low temperature Hg speciation in volcanic plumes.

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Natural biogeochemical cycle of mercury in a global three‐dimensional ocean tracer model

Zhang

Jaeglé

Thompson

2014

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

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We implement mercury (Hg) biogeochemistry in the offline global 3-D ocean tracer model (OFFTRAC) to investigate the natural Hg cycle, prior to any anthropogenic input. The simulation includes three Hg tracers: dissolved elemental (Hg 0 aq ), dissolved divalent (Hg II aq ), and particle-bound mercury (Hg P aq ). Our Hg parameterization takes into account redox chemistry in ocean waters, air-sea exchange of Hg 0 , scavenging of Hg II aq onto sinking particles, and resupply of Hg II aq at depth by remineralization of sinking particles. Atmospheric boundary conditions are provided by a global simulation of the natural atmospheric Hg cycle in the GEOS-Chem model. In the surface ocean, the OFFTRAC model predicts global mean concentrations of 0.16 pM for total Hg, partitioned as 80% Hg II aq , 14% Hg 0 aq , and 6% Hg P aq . Total Hg concentrations increase to 0.38 pM in the thermocline/intermediate waters (between the mixed layer and 1000 m depth) and 0.82 pM in deep waters (below 1000 m), reflecting removal of Hg from the surface to the subsurface ocean by particle sinking followed by remineralization at depth. Our model predicts that Hg concentrations in the deep North Pacific Ocean (>2000 m) are a factor of 2-3 higher than in the deep North Atlantic Ocean. This is the result of cumulative input of Hg from particle remineralization as deep waters transit from the North Atlantic to the North Pacific on their~2000 year journey. The model is able to reproduce the relatively uniform concentrations of total Hg observed in the old deep waters of the North Pacific Ocean (observations: 1.2 ± 0.4 pM; model: 1.1 ± 0.04 pM) and Southern Ocean (observations: 1.1 ± 0.2 pM; model: 0.8 ± 0.02 pM). However, the modeled concentrations are factors of 5-6 too low compared to observed concentrations in the surface ocean and in the young water masses of the deep North Atlantic Ocean. This large underestimate for these regions implies a factor of 5-6 anthropogenic enhancement in Hg concentrations.

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New clues on the contribution of Earth’s volcanism to the global mercury cycle

Cited by 62 publications

References 101 publications

Mercury emissions from soils and fumaroles of Nea Kameni volcanic centre, Santorini (Greece)

Mercury emissions from soils and fumaroles of Nea Kameni volcanic centre, Santorini (Greece)

Rapid oxidation of mercury (Hg) at volcanic vents: Insights from high temperature thermodynamic models of Mt Etna's emissions

Natural biogeochemical cycle of mercury in a global three‐dimensional ocean tracer model

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